Woman fined for using car to lead horse

A woman has been convicted of driving without due care after gardaí found her driving through a town with her husband in the boot, leading a horse.

The incident happened in Athy, Co Kildare, on March 20th last. Gardaí became aware of the green Peugeot 406 at 4.30pm at the head of a slow line of traffic on Fort Barrington Road.

When they neared the car driven by Heather Josiah (29), Ardrew Court, Athy, they saw the boot was open with Mr Josiah sitting in it, leading a horse on a rope.

At Athy District Court, Judge Desmond Zaidan was visibly stunned by the evidence given by Insp Jim Doyle, and asked the garda: “Is that for real?” He said the case was something one might expect in 1890 rather than 2012.

Solicitor Matthew Byrne said his client, a mother of four, was a short distance from home when stopped.

The court also heard how a week earlier, Ms Josiah had been stopped in traffic at Emily Square, Athy, with her husband holding a two-year-old child, unrestrained in the front seat. Another child was sitting behind the passenger seat, also unrestrained.

The judge imposed a €400 fine for driving with undue consideration, and €200 for having an unrestrained child in the car.